Capital Athletic Conference Commissioner Tom Byrnes announced Tuesday morning a record 1,356 student-athletes were named to the conference’s 2014-15 All-Academic Team for an average of 136 student-athletes per full member institution.
St. Mary’s College of Maryland registered the highest percentage of student-athletes on the list for the eighth straight year, landing 56.5% of its student-athletes on the All-Academic squad. York College of Pennsylvania, Southern Virginia University, and Salisbury University also placed over half of their student-athletes on the team, with York in second at 52.7%, Southern Virginia in third at 50.3%, and Salisbury in fourth at 50.1%.
In all, nine CAC full member institutions placed more than 40% of their student-athletes on the All-Academic team.
Director of Athletics & Recreation Scott Devine expressed, “We are extremely proud of our student-athletes, as they are on top of the CAC for the eighth straight year in percentage of student athletes over a 3.2 grade point average. This is an incredible streak that speaks to the motivation and drive of our athletes to perform at a high level in the classroom while balancing demanding academic and athletic schedules.”
“It also correlates with the job our coaches and admissions staff are doing on the front end of the process by recruiting and admitting the right type of academically and athletically talented students that fit our institution. We are very pleased to hold the top spot in our conference once again. Our student-athletes take great pride in this accomplishment. Once they return to campus in August, I know they will look forward to the challenge to aim for nine years in a row.”
The 1,356 honorees mark the fourth time in CAC history that over 1,000 student-athletes have earned All-Academic recognition. The 2014-15 school year marked the second full year of membership for Christopher Newport University, Penn State Harrisburg and Southern Virginia. Additionally, New Jersey City University and William Paterson University concluded their second year as associate members in golf.
Student-athletes in one or more CAC championship sports that attain a 3.20 grade point average (GPA) for the academic year earn a spot on the All-Academic Team. A record 44.7% of CAC student-athletes posted a 3.20 GPA this year (1,356 of 3,030).
Six schools had at least 100 student-athletes on the CAC All-Academic team, including a CAC-leading 202 honorees from York. Salisbury was close behind in second with 199 honorees followed by St. Mary’s (162), Frostburg State University (155) and the University of Mary Washington (148).
The men’s lacrosse team, coached by Chris Hasbrouck, led St. Mary’s with 23 selections while the men’s (11) and women’s (9) cross country teams, under the guidance of Tom Fisher, combined for 20 honorees. The men’s (9) and women’s (10) swimming programs as well as the women’s soccer team each produced 19 selections.
Field hockey (15), women’s lacrosse (13), men’s soccer (12), and baseball (10) all finished with at least 10 athletes on the All-Academic Team.
Sixteen Seahawk student-athletes ended their careers as four-year members of the All-Academic Team, including cross country runner Timothy Carey ’15 (California, Md./Leonardtown), a 2015 Capital One Division III Academic All-District II Men’s Track & Field/Cross Country First Team selection, and field hockey player Kelly Shuman ’15 (Columbia, Md./Atholton), the 2014-15 SMCM Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Additionally, 12 Seahawks posted a 4.0 GPA in 2014-15, including field hockey player Shelby Ennis ’18 (Westover, Md./Washington), a 2014 NFHCA Division III Scholar of Distinction; women’s lacrosse player Shelby Newman ’16 (Hampstead, Md./Manchester Valley), a three-time all-region pick; and women’s tennis player Melissa Barall (Columbia, Md./Wilde Lake), the 2015 CAC Rookie of the Year.
Ranking by Percentage of Student-Athletes with at least a 3.2 GPA
St. Mary’s (Md.) (162 of 287)……………………………………….. 56.5%
York (Pa.) (202 of 383)………………………………………………….. 52.7%
Southern Virginia (98 of 195)…………………………………………… 50.3%
Salisbury (199 of 397)…………………………………………………… 50.1%
Frostburg State (155 of 348)……………………………………………. 44.5%
Mary Washington (148 of 336)………………………………………….. 44.0%
Marymount (Va.) (95 of 222)…………………………………………… 42.8%
William Paterson (3 of 7, 1 sport)………………………………………. 42.8%
Wesley (88 of 217)……………………………………………………….. 40.5%
Penn State Harrisburg (80 of 241)……………………………………… 33.2%
Christopher Newport (123 of 386)……………………………………… 31.9%
New Jersey City (3 of 11, 1 sport)…………………………………….. 27.3%
Total (1,356 of 3,030)………………………………………………… 44.8%
Ranking by Total Number of Student-Athletes with at least a 3.2 GPA
York (Pa.)……………………………….. 202
Salisbury…………………………………. 199
St. Mary’s (Md.)………………………. 162
Frostburg State…………………………. 155
Mary Washington……………………….. 148
Christopher Newport…………………… 123
Southern Virginia…………………………. 98
Marymount (Va.)…………………………. 95
Wesley…………………………………….. 88
Penn State Harrisburg…………………… 80
New Jersey City (1 sport)………………… 3
William Paterson (1 sport)……………….. 3
Total………………………………….. 1,356
Press release from www.smcmathletics.com.